Getting Started with Social Networks and Social Media

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Organizations should consider many factors before jumping into social media and social networks. Here are some guidelines.

Photo by ButchLebo.

Start With Intent

Be clear about the purpose of your social networks and media. Are you looking at reaching new markets and opening channels for membership, market adoption or sales? Are you hoping to increase awareness and open communication concerning your organization? Are you creating coupons or informational products? Knowing your intent defines which path you take.

Choose the Appropriate Social Media Platform

There are many open source and free platforms out there. Besides, there are some great collaborative products and numerous content management software companies. The following are some things to consider when choosing a platform.

• Operating environments vary. Some content systems work in a Windows environment, while some are built for open source platforms such as Linux.
• The content system should have an RSS feed support feature. This means that one can export the content using specific protocol which allows it to be viewed in a reader or any other application, and not only at the site.
• The platform should allow administrative functions such as exporting, importing and backing up.
• Customization is vital. You should be able to make the platform feel and look like you want it to.

Keep the Community Alive

People’s attention spans are very short. Work stresses are very high. Your chances of making a rich and robust community of hundreds or thousands overnight are fairly slim. The following are ideas for keeping communities alive.

• Make sure there is always something to do in your community. This could include writing comments, joining groups, making notes, building wikis, looking at people’s photos and tagging. In my community which features Medifast coupons and Nutrisystem discounts, there are always discussions going on about different aspects of weight loss.
• Go beyond the borders often. Young communities grow by gently persuading new immigrants. For instance, if you are active on Facebook, you can intermittently point to posts on your community. You could also comment on blogs which share your group’s intent, and populate your URL. People click on the URL of interesting comments.
• Stifle less and encourage more. When sites forget about their community-minded goals, things go wrong. Be mindful of your interaction with the community.
• Make it worthwhile for your community. If you want to create a place where people can share ideas, build content and collaborate, think of how you can reward your community for their effort.

It’s All About People

At the core of everything are people. If your social network is dedicated to praising your company or products, it will end up being very ineffective. People want to feel appreciated. Have this as the focus of your perspective and motivations. Make it worthwhile for people and they’ll appreciate.